Raising a Child With Autism: The Basics

The daily care of a child with autism can often seem overwhelming. Meeting their physical needs, responding to their emotions, creating an appropriate environment, and helping them learn is an ongoing challenge.

Although every child is unique and the level of autistic tendencies varies widely, there are some factors that have been found to make caring for a child with autism a little easier. The following are some of the most effective ways to help you and your family live with a child with autism.

Establishing a Routine

All children benefit from a consistent routine; however, a routine is often a necessity for a child with autism. Involve all family members in the decision of what the routine should be. Individual needs, temperaments, schedules, and commitments should be considered. The routine allows the child with autism to predict the day's events, which should bring security. Janice, a mother of 3 boys with autism, ages 19, 10, and 8, says, "I found that a routine helps to keep confusion out of their already confused world. If the routine needs to change, I let them know ahead of time."

Establish a set time for meals, bath, play, activities, shopping, school, friends, and bedtime. Abide by the routine as much as possible. Be sure that family members, friends, teachers, and neighbors are familiar with the routine so they can be supportive.

Sometimes circumstances beyond one's control and the demands of the day interrupt the routine. It is common for the child with autism to protest the change with undesirable behavior, such as screaming, self-inflicted injury, destructive behavior, or verbal attacks. Although the parent understands the reason for the negative behavior, it is important that they respond with the same consistent consequences. Then, return to the routine as soon as possible.

Being Consistent

Many experts feel that a consistent environment is the best tool available for children with autism to learn. Consistency in the daily routine, discipline, communication, social interactions, and experiences all contribute to reinforcing their learning environment. Children with autism have trouble transferring what they learn from one experience to another. For example, they may use the proper sign language for drink when they want a drink at school, but may stand in front of the refrigerator and scream when they want a drink at home.

Enforcing the consistency requires a great deal of communication between parents, family members, teachers, and other caregivers. Beth, the mother of 2 boys with autism, ages 8 and 5, says, "When my youngest son was in the special needs preschool, they used picture cards to help him communicate. They suggested that I make the same picture cards to use at home. This helped us communicate better with each other."

Reinforcing Positive Behavior

Many parents of children with autism do not discipline because they are unprepared to handle the negative behavior. Although there is no magic formula for disciplining any child, many parents believe that behavior modification is most effective in changing the negative behavior of a child with autism. In most cases, if positive behavior is followed with desirable consequences, the child will repeat the behavior in order to gain the reward.

Be specific when rewarding the child. Verbalize exactly what behavior earned the reward. Instead of saying "Nice job," say "Thank you for picking up the toys." The child will be more likely to associate the positive behavior with the praise.

Tangible rewards are sometimes necessary since social interaction is oftentimes undesirable to a child with autism. Privileges, stickers, toys, and tokens can be used as effective rewards. Immediate rewards are usually most effective during the early years, while delayed rewards can be effective with older children. Rewards such as candy are usually effective, but not recommended because they can cause other problems. Janice says that she uses a token system for good behavior. She has a chart for each son on the refrigerator. When she witnesses a good behavior, she allows them to put a sticker on the chart. When her sons collect so many stickers, they get a reward, such as a video, toy, or a special treat.

Getting Involved in the Child's Schooling

Investigate the programs in your area and select the one that best meets the needs of your child. It is most common for a community to have home-based, school-based, and private programs available. A positive educational program is a key factor in determining the child with autism's future. Therefore, it is important that parents take advantage of early intervention programs, seek out the best schools, and continue to evaluate the educational program in which their child is involved.

Home-based Programs

In a home-based program, the teacher and a variety of therapists will come into the home and work with the child with autism in developing skills in areas such as communication, behavior, and socialization. They often work with the parents as well as the child.

School-based Programs

School-based programs are usually taught by licensed special education teachers and therapists and are located in public schools or private facilities. Some programs are restricted to children with special needs, while others integrate children without special needs. These programs usually offer more structured learning activities with a distinct emphasis on socialization. When evaluating a program, consider the following:

Staff/child ratio

Curriculum

Availability of learning equipment

Special services, such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy

Appropriateness of play areas

Individual attention given to the child's special needs

Parent education

When the child is school age, there are also a variety of programs available. Many programs are provided by the public school system and offer mainstreaming, where the child participates in classes with children who do not have special needs. Some programs are held in centers with just students with special needs—possibly just students with autism. Regardless of the location, most school programs offer structured learning activities, specific curriculum goals, individualized instruction, special services, and parent education.

Being an Advocate

Even if the program does not have a structured parent education program, it is important for the parent to be active in the child's education. As mentioned earlier, routine and consistency are necessary for children with autism. It is difficult for this to occur unless the parent and teacher work together.

Parents are the greatest advocates a child with autism can have. Becoming informed and staying current on the latest research enables parents to be even more effective.

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

Can we help answer your questions?

Wellmont Nurse Connection is your resource for valuable health information any time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Speak to a Nurse any time, day or night, at (423) 723-6877 or toll-free at 1-877-230-NURSE.